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February Books

FICTION

This Is Not About Us, by Allegra Goodman

Was this just a brief skirmish, or the beginning of a 30-year feud? In the Rubinstein family, it could go either way. When their beloved older sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein are unmoored. A misunderstanding about apple cake turns into decades of stubborn silence. Busy with their own lives — divorces, dating, career setbacks, college applications, bat mitzvahs and ballet recitals — their children do not want to get involved. As for their grandchildren? Impossible. Sharply observed and laced with humor, This Is Not About Us is a story of growing up and growing old, the weight of parental expectations, and the complex connection between sisters.

Family Drama, by Rebecca Fallon

It’s 1997, and snow is blanketing a New England beach. Two befuddled 7-year-olds watch as their mother’s body is tipped overboard from a crumbling boat. A Viking funeral, followed by a raucous wake. A sendoff fit for a soap opera star: Susan Bliss. Fifteen years earlier, Susan is a blazing, beautiful young woman, passionate about her art. It’s impossible not to fall in love with her, and so Alcott, a practical professor, does— hopelessly. And so begins the love story of Susan’s two-paneled life: an unconventional, jetlag-filled arrangement that takes her back and forth between her life in New England as a wife and mother to young twins, to the bright lights of Los Angeles, where she becomes the beloved star of a daytime soap. In the present, Susan’s twins grow up in the shadow of her all-consuming absence. Sebastian, a sensitive artist, cleaves to her memory, fascinated with the artifacts of her starry past. Viola, resentful of her mother’s torn allegiances, distances herself from the memories of her. But when Viola runs into her mother’s old co-star Orson Grey — now a renowned Hollywood star — she finds herself falling deeply in love with him and begins to put together the pieces of a mother she never really knew.

NONFICTION

The Powerful Primate: How Controlling Energy Enabled
Us to Build Civilization, by Roland Ennos

From our bipedal ancestors wielding simple tools to modern humans mastering complex machinery, Ennos takes us on a gripping journey through the evolution of human dominance. Learn the fascinating history of how humans have progressively harnessed energy from sources such as wood, animals, water, wind, sun, fossil fuels and even atomic nuclei to fuel our rise as the most powerful species on Earth. Our ancestors’ ability to hit harder, throw farther and cut deeper than any other animal laid the groundwork for the development of agriculture, industry, and ultimately, modern civilization. Yet, this power has come at a cost: Environmental degradation and societal challenges have arisen from our relentless pursuit of energy and technological advancement. There is hope, however: The same engineering skills that have brought us here can pave the way for a more sustainable future.

A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness,
by Michael Pollan

The fact that we have subjective experience of the world remains one of nature’s greatest mysteries. How is it that our mental operations are accompanied by feelings, thoughts and a sense of self? In A World Appears, Pollan traces the unmapped continent that is consciousness, bringing radically different perspectives — scientific, philosophical, literary, spiritual and psychedelic — to see what each can teach us about this central fact of life. When neuroscientists began studying consciousness in the early 1990s, they sought to explain how and why three pounds of spongy gray matter could generate a subjective point of view — assuming that the brain is the source of our perceived reality. Pollan takes us to the cutting edge of the field, where scientists are entertaining more radical (and less materialist) theories of consciousness. In a dazzling exploration of consciousness, he discovers a world far deeper and stranger than our everyday reality.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Is It Spring?,
by Kevin Henkes

A masterful and classic picture book that combines an evocative call-and-response text with delicate and lovely illustrations, readers will be left assured that the sun — and spring — will always come again. (Ages 4-8.)

The Lions’ Run, by Sara Pennypacker

Petit éclair. That’s what the other boys at the orphanage call Lucas DuBois. As tired of his cowardly reputation as he’s tired of the war and the Nazi occupation of his French village, Lucas longs to show how brave he can be. He gets the chance when he saves a litter of kittens and brings them to an abandoned stable. Lucas begins to realize they are not the only ones in the village with secrets. Emboldened by the unlikely heroes all around him, Lucas is forced to decide how much he is willing to risk making the most courageous rescue of all. (Ages 8-12.)

The Rare Bird, by Elisha Cooper

The imagination of one housecat takes him to unexpected adventures as he dreams of spreading his wings as a “Rare Bird.” A Rare Bird can do anything! Fly fast through the forest, or splash in the bird baths, or meet animals from faraway lands . . . Readers will fall head over heels for this extraordinary tale of dreaming, the power of imagination, and the freedom of creativity. (Ages 4-8.)

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January Books

FICTION

The Infamous Gilberts, by Angela Tomaski

Thornwalk, a once-stately English manor, is on the brink of transformation. Its keys are being handed over to a luxury hotelier who will undertake a complete renovation but, in doing so, what will they erase? Through the keen eyes of an enigmatic neighbor, the reader is taken on a guided tour into rooms filled with secrets and memories, each revealing the story of the five Gilbert siblings. Spanning the eve of World War II to the early 2000s, this contemporary gothic novel weaves a rich tapestry of English country life. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn into a world where the echoes of an Edwardian idyll clash with the harsh realities of war, neglect and changing times. The Gilberts’ tale is one of great loves, lofty ambitions and profound loss.

Meet the Newmans, by Jennifer Niven

For two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America’s “Favorite Family.” Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play flawless, black-and-white versions of themselves. But now it’s 1964, and the Newmans’ idealized apple-pie perfection suddenly feels woefully out of touch. Ratings are in free fall, as are the Newmans themselves. Del is keeping an explosive secret from his wife, and Dinah is slowly going numb, literally. Steady, stable Guy is hiding the truth about his love life, and the charmed luck of rock ’n’ roll idol Shep may have finally run out. When Del is in a mysterious car accident, Dinah decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires Juliet Dunne, an outspoken, impassioned young reporter, to help her write the final episode. But Dinah and Juliet have wildly different perspectives about what it means to be a woman, and a family, in 1964. Can the Newmans hold it together to change television history or will they be canceled before they ever have the chance? 

NONFICTION

The Typewriter and the Guillotine: An American Journalist, a German Serial Killer, and Paris on the Eve of WWII,
by Mark Braude

In 1925, Indianapolis-born Janet Flanner took an assignment to write a regular “Letter from Paris” for a lighthearted humor magazine called The New Yorker. She’d come to Paris with dreams of writing about “Beauty with a Capital B.” Her employer, self-consciously apolitical, sought only breezy reports on French art and culture. But as she woke to the frightening signs of rising extremism, economic turmoil and widespread discontent in Europe, Flanner ignored her editor’s directives and reinvented herself, her assignment and The New Yorker in the process. While working tirelessly to alert American readers to the dangers of the Third Reich, Flanner became gripped by the disturbing crimes of a man who embodied all of the darkness she was being forced to confront: Eugen Weidmann, a German conman and murderer, and the last man to be publicly executed in France mere weeks before the outbreak of WWII. Flanner covered his crimes, capture and highly politicized trial, seeing the case as a metaphor for understanding the dangers to come.

Opera Wars: Inside the World of Opera and the Battles for Its Future, by Caitlin Vincent

Drawing on interviews with dozens of opera insiders — as well as her own experience as an award-winning librettist, trained vocalist, opera company director, and arts commentator — Vincent exposes opera’s internal debates, never shrinking from depicting the industry’s top-to-bottom messiness and its stubborn resistance to change. Yet, like a lover who can’t quite break away, she always comes back to her veneration for the art form and stirringly evokes those moments on stage that can be counted on to make ardent fans of the most skeptical.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World, by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price

This engaging guide is packed with surprising facts, a graphic novel, interactive challenges, secrets that tech leaders don’t want kids to know, and real-life anecdotes from young adults who regret getting smartphones at a young age and want to help the next generation avoid making the same mistakes. It’s a bold, optimistic, and practical guide to growing into your most authentic, confident, and adventurous self. (Ages 9 – 12.)

The Wildest Thing, by Emily Winfield Martin

What would you do if you let the wild in? With gorgeous illustrations, this book is the ideal addition to any bedtime reading routine or read aloud. The Wildest Thing beautifully expresses a timeless message about little ones unleashing their inner “wild” and encouraging their budding imagination and unique individuality. (Ages 3 – 7.)

Rock and Roll, by Ruby Amy Thompson

A laugh-out-loud story of friendship that reminds readers that first impressions can be deceptive. Rock is strong, and Roll is soft. Rock hates attention. Roll loves it. But they are both team players; they are able to handle pressure; and they LOVE to get dressed up. Maybe they’re not so different after all! This sweet story reminds readers that first impressions can be deceptive. (Ages 3 – 7.)

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December Books

FICTION

Burner: And Other Stories, by Katrina Denza

Denza writes about women in conflict: attempting to woo a man via a burner phone; discovering the best friendships are those grounded in reality; subscribing to a hologram service to speak to a deceased husband; reclaiming power only to realize power is an illusion; discovering there is no safe haven; confronting the frustrations of being an artist; and reckoning with mistakes made as a mother. Wrestling with connections and disconnections, highs and lows, and the vagaries of modernity, Burner and Other Stories touches how we live.

NONFICTION

Van Gogh: The Pop Up Book

See the vibrant artistry of Vincent van Gogh burst into life through dazzling three-dimensional interpretations of five of his most celebrated works. This imaginative book transforms renowned masterpieces into interactive pop-up creations, offering a new and tactile appreciation of one of history’s most visionary artists. Each scene draws readers into Van Gogh’s universe, revealing the swirling night sky of The Starry Night in dramatic relief; the serene intimacy of The Bedroom; and the vibrant colors of Wheatfield with Cypresses. The street scene of Café Terrace at Night and the delicate beauty of Almond Blossom emerge in meticulous detail, emphasizing the dynamic movement and profound emotion of his technique. These exquisite pop-ups amplify the expressive contours and vibrant hues that define his genius, bringing Van Gogh’s unparalleled vision to life in an unforgettable way.

Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, by Paul McCartney

Drawn from over 500,000 words of interviews with McCartney, family, band members and other key participants, Wings recounts — now with a half-century’s perspective — the musical odyssey taken by a man searching for his identity in the aftermath of The Beatles’ breakup. Soon joined by his wife — American photographer Linda McCartney — on keyboard and vocals, drummer Denny Seiwell, and guitarist Denny Laine, McCartney sowed the seeds for a new band that would later provide the soundtrack of the decade. The narrative begins when a 27-year-old superstar fled with his new wife to a remote sheep farm in Scotland amid a sea of legal and personal rows. The setting gave McCartney time to create, and it was there where this new band emerged. Wings follows the group as they play unannounced shows at university halls, tour in a sheared-off double-decker bus with their children, survive a robbery on the streets of Nigeria, and eventually perform blockbuster stadium shows on their world tour, all while producing some of the most enduring music of the time. Introduced with a personal, heartfelt foreword by McCartney, the volume contains 150 black and white and color photographs, many previously unseen, as well as timelines, a gigography and a full discography.

Black, White, Colored: The Hidden Story of an Insurrection, a Family, a Southern Town, and Identity in America, by Lauretta Malloy Noble, LeeAnét Noble

In the late 19th century, Laurinburg, North Carolina, was a beacon of racial calm — a place where Blacks and whites could live and work together. Black families like the Malloys became landlords, business owners and doctors, thriving together and changing the economic landscape. But that progress was shattered on the eve of Election Day, 1898, when supremacist groups launched a bloody attack, forcing Laurinburg’s Black citizens to flee. With meticulous research drawn from sources including The New York Age and census records, the mother and daughter authors — descendants of the town’s early Black leaders — uncover the trailblazing achievements of their ancestors, piecing together proof of Black resilience in a region shaped by profound adversity whose contributions extended beyond Laurinburg to institutions including Howard University and Meharry Medical College.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science: Secrets of the Purple Pearl, by Kate McKinnon

From the Saturday Night Live legend comes this highly anticipated second about mad science, three peculiar sisters, and the mysterious Millicent Quibb! The Porch Sisters are in trouble. It’s summertime in Antiquarium, and everyone has flocked to the majestic lakeside Purple Pearl Hotel, including the Krenetics Research Association, a nefarious group of mad scientists. They haven’t given up on resurrecting their fearsome leader, Talon Sharktūth, and now they’re hot on the trail of the legendary Purple Pearl, a source of power that is rumored to be lost at the bottom of Lake Kagloopy. But Gertrude, Eugenia and Dee-Dee are on to them and their mentor, Millicent Quibb, has a plan! Is it a good plan? Hard to say! But it does involve finding a mysterious creature called a Shrimpmaid and retrieving the pearl before the KRA gets its evil hands on it! (Ages 8 – 12.)

The Apprenticeship of Andrew Weyth: Painting a Family Legacy, by Gene Barretta

Before Andrew Wyeth found his creative voice, he was a boy growing up in an artistic family, spending his time in rural Pennsylvania and Maine. Andy, as he was called by his family, was trained by his father, renowned artist N.C. Wyeth, but they didn’t always see eye to eye. Pa wanted his son to fill his compositions with exciting characters and places. But to Andy, the most exciting stories to paint were the ones he lived every day, that featured the familiar people and places he loved most. (Ages 5 – 9.)

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November Books

FICTION

Party Stories, by Ella Carr

Momentous parties have long provided dramatic scenes in fiction, from Natasha’s first ball in War and Peace to Darcy snubbing Lizzy in Pride and Prejudice to J. Edgar Hoover and Truman Capote rubbing shoulders in Don DeLillo’s “The Black-and-White Ball.” Revelry can be revealing of character, as in Gatsby’s extravagant bash in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and the decadent partying of the jaded expats in Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. More decorous affairs can also reveal profound depths, as in Katherine Mansfield’s “The Garden Party” and the parties at the center of those two modernist masterpieces, Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway and James Joyce’s “The Dead.” There is room on this dance floor for humor, as well, in Evelyn Waugh’s “Bella Fleace Gave a Party,” Dorothy Parker’s “Arrangement in Black & White,” and Saki’s “The Boar-Pig.” All sorts of literary greats mingle in this festive gathering, a perfectly entertaining gift for readers and partygoers alike.

Green Forest, Red Earth, Blue Sea, by Jim Gulledge

A small pocket watch bears witness to the loves and losses of three North Carolina families — the Kellers, Elliotts and McClures. As the heirloom passes down over a hundred years, questions arise. Can strength and goodness be gifted to one’s heirs? What about corruption and evil? Do the lives of ancestors have any bearing on those who come after them? From Reconstruction to the modern age, this sweeping family saga speaks to what binds families together and tears them apart. Powers of darkness and light fight for the minds and hearts of every individual. In a land of beauty populated by Scots Irish pioneers, cotton farmers, Native Americans, fishermen, and pirates, Green Forest, Red Earth, Blue Sea by local author Jim Gulledge is a chronicle of human failings and the power of redemption.

NONFICTION

Rules for Living to 100, by Dick Van Dyke

Dick Van Dyke danced his way into our hearts with iconic roles in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and as the eponymous star of The Dick Van Dyke Show. Now, as he’s about to turn 100 years old, Van Dyke is still approaching life with the twinkle in his eye that we’ve come to know and love. Through pivotal stories of his childhood, moments on film sets, his expansive family, and finding love late in life, Van Dyke reflects on the joyful times and the challenges that shaped him. His indefatigable spirit and positive attitude will surely inspire readers to count the blessings in their own lives, persevere through the hard times, and appreciate the beauty and complexity of being human.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Nightly Prayer: The Religious Life of the First Lady of the World, by Donn Mitchell

A great woman who was heavily involved in politics, Eleanor Roosevelt is considered one of the most important and beloved first ladies and female leaders. Her faith and beliefs are commonly dismissed as confines of the upbringing that she broke free from, though her dedication to the Episcopal Church and her reliance on Jesus’ teachings imply otherwise. Her nightly prayer, famously recorded in her writing, demonstrates her approach to serving her community and nation. Her inspiration and strength become apparent in the context of her religion and the fulfillment of her beliefs through her actions. In reviewing observations from family members, her own writing and her participation in the church, Mitchell examines the impact of Eleanor’s faith on her work, and by extension, its impact on the world.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Dog Man: Big Jim Believes, by Dav Pilkey

Our caped crusaders — Dog Man (aka Scarlet Shedder), Commander Cupcake and Sprinkles — along with Mecha Molly discover that the city has changed and nothing is how it should be. Can Big Jim’s positivity and innocence help our heroes? Will Dog Man, Big Jim, Grampa and Molly have the courage to trust each other and save the day? How does the past help shape the future? And who is the chosen one? Readers will want to hold onto their hero capes as they soar into a new thrilling Dog Man story. (Ages 7-9.)

The Humble Pie, by Jory John

The Humble Pie likes to give others the spotlight. Aw, shucks! They deserve it! But when he’s paired with his best friend, Jake the Cake, for a school project, he soon realizes that staying in the shadows isn’t always as sweet as pie. Readers of all ages will laugh along as their new pie pal discovers that letting your voice be heard can take the cake! (Ages 4-8.)

Goodnight, Crayons, by Drew Daywalt

The hilarious Crayons are ready to say good night . . . or are they? The Crayons are getting ready to go to bed, but each Crayon has something special they need to fall asleep. Blue Crayon needs a drink of water, Orange Crayon needs a blankie, Red Crayon needs a story or two or three. What do you need to fall asleep? A humorous, good night story from everyone’s favorite school supplies. (Ages 4-8.)

The Christmas Sweater, by Jan Brett

Yiayia is thrilled with the fantastically adorned Christmas sweater she made for her grandson’s dog, Ariadne. Her grandson Theo loves it too, but he can tell Ari doesn’t feel the same way. Luckily, Theo knows exactly what will show her just how cozy and warm the sweater is — a hike to Echo Lake. And he can wear his new snowshoes! The woods are a winter wonderland and more snow swirls as they hike. Just when they reach the lake, Theo realizes Ari’s sweater has disappeared, along with their tracks and every familiar landmark. Could they have lost Yiayia’s gift and the way home? Luckily, Ari spots something in the snow that turns out to be a surprising solution to their predicament.  (Ages 4-8.)

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October Books

FICTION

Heart the Lover, by Lily King

Jordan’s greatest love story is the one she lived, the one that never followed the simple rules. In the fall of her senior year of college, she meets two star students, Sam and Yash, from her 17th Century Lit class. The boys invite her into their intoxicating world of academic fervor, rapid-fire banter and raucous card games. They nickname her Jordan, and she quickly discovers the pleasures of friendship, love and her own intellectual ambition. But youthful passion is unpredictable, and soon she finds herself at the center of a charged and intricate triangle. As graduation comes and goes, choices made will alter these three lives forever.

Decades later, the vulnerable days of Jordan’s youth seem comfortably behind her. When a surprise visit and unexpected news bring the past crashing into the present, she returns to a world she left behind, and must confront the decisions and deceptions of her youth.

The White Octopus Hotel, by Alexandra Bell

London, 2015: When reclusive art appraiser Eve Shaw shakes the hand of a silver-haired gentleman in her office, the warmth of his palm sends a spark through her. His name is Max Everly — curiously, the same name as Eve’s favorite composer, born 116 years prior. And she has the sudden feeling that she’s held his hand before . . . but where, and when?

The White Octopus Hotel, 1935: In this belle époque building high in the snowy mountains, Eve and a young Max wander the winding halls, lost in time. Each of them has been through the trenches — Eve through a family accident and Max on the battlefields of the Great War — but for an impossible moment, love and healing are just a room away . . . if only they have the courage to step through the door.

NONFICTION

To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower, by Bret Baier

An iconoclast shaped by fervent ideals, Theodore Roosevelt’s early life seems ripped from the pages of an adventure novel. Abandoning his place in New York aristocracy, he was drawn to the thrill of the West, becoming an honorary cowboy who won the respect of the rough men of the plains, adopting their code of authenticity and courage. As a New York State legislator, he fought corruption and patronage. As New York City police commissioner, he walked the beat at night to hold his men accountable; and as New York governor, he butted heads with the old guard to bring fresh air to a state mired in political corruption. He was a passionate naturalist, conservationist and hunter who collected hundreds of specimens of birds and animals throughout his life.

A soldier and the commander who led a regiment of “Rough Riders” during the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt’s show of leadership and bravery put him on the national map. As president, he brought energy, laughter and bold ideas to the White House, pursuing a vigorous agenda that established America as a leader on the world stage. Baier, Fox News Channel’s chief political anchor, reveals the storied life of a leader whose passion, daring and prowess left an indelible mark on the fabric of our country.

The Uncool: A Memoir, by Cameron Crowe

This long-awaited memoir by one of America’s iconic journalists and filmmakers is a joyful dispatch from a lost world, a chronicle of the real-life events that became Almost Famous, and a coming-of-age journey filled with music legends as you’ve never seen them before. Born in 1957 to parents who strictly banned the genre from their house, he dove headfirst into the world of music. By the time he graduated high school at 15, Crowe was contributing to Rolling Stone. His parents became believers, uneasily allowing him to interview and tour with legends like Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and Fleetwood Mac. The Uncool offers a front-row ticket to the 1970s, a golden era for music and art when rock was young. Crowe spends his teens politely turning down the drugs and turning on his tape recorder. He talks his journalism teacher into giving him class credit for his road trip covering Led Zeppelin’s 1975 tour. He embeds with David Bowie as the sequestered genius transforms himself into a new persona: the Thin White Duke. Youth and humility are Crowe’s ticket into the Eagles’ dressing room in 1972, where Glenn Frey vows to keep the band together forever; to his first major interview with Kris Kristofferson; to earning the trust of icons like Gregg Allman and Joni Mitchell. It’s a magical odyssey, the journey of a teenage writer waved through the door to find his fellow dreamers, music geeks and lifelong community. The path leads him to writing and directing some of the most beloved films of the past 40 years, from Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Say Anything . . . to Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous. His movies often resonate with the music of the artists he first met as a journalist, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Who and Pearl Jam.

The Uncool is also a surprisingly intimate family drama. For the first time, Crowe opens up about his formative years in Palm Springs and pays tribute to his father, a decorated Army officer who taught him the irreplaceable value of the human voice, and offers a full portrait of his mother, whose singular spirit helped shape him into an unconventional visionary.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Squirrels Scamper, by Mélina Mangal

Two young children — cousins Kamali and Josiah — notice the squirrels moving fast outside their window and venture to the backyard to watch them. They practice using their sense of balance to gain confidence while they climb, jump and move like the squirrels do. Taking in a beautiful fall day, they help rake the yard before jumping in their pile of leaves, noticing how their own work and play are parallel to a squirrel’s day. Squirrels Scamper is part of the Outside Our Window Board Book series, encouraging children — especially those in urban environments — to explore, protect and delight in nature.

The Five Wolves, by Peter McCarty

Across oceans, through fields and down tunnels, five daring wolves traverse the planet in search of wonders to draw and paint. All the while, a disembodied narrator spins the tale of their absurdist adventure and asks big questions. What is art? And who does it belong to? Part epic picture book, part graphic novel, The Five Wolves defies genres. With intricate ink work and meticulous hand-lettering, McCarty has crafted an exquisitely illustrated epic poem and a testament to the power of art and artists.

Dragonborn, by Struan Murray

There is a secret world of dragons that lurks at the edges of our own. But dragons also live among us. These Slumberers have been human for so long they have forgotten their true selves — until something awakens the dragon within. Twelve-year-old Alex Evans is about to wake up. Ever since her father’s death, Alex’s overprotective mother has smothered her with unbreakable rules and unspoken fears. Feeling trapped, Alex’s frustration has become too big to hide away. Burning inside, she erupts into a fierce, fiery roar. A new school and a new life await her on the legendary island of Skralla, one of the last surviving dragon havens. There, she will train alongside other young dragons who are wild, untamed and — unlike Alex — skilled at transforming and embracing their dragons within. As dark factions begin to rise, Alex finds herself in a race to unlock her long-dormant power before Drak Midna, the greatest dragon of all, rises to wage war against the human world.

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September Books

FICTION

The Last Assignment, by Erika Robuck

It’s the fall of 1956 and award-winning but often-maligned combat photojournalist Georgette “Dickey” Chapelle works for the International Rescue Committee — started by Albert Einstein during the Second World War — to bring the plight of the world’s war refugees to the attention of the American people. Still grieving the death of her mother, just two years after the death of her father, and in the midst of a prolonged and painful separation from her philandering husband, Dickey identifies deeply with displaced people — particularly women, children and orphans. After a refugee rescue goes wrong, Dickey finds herself imprisoned in a Soviet camp, and it’s there that a flame is lit deep inside her to show the world what war really means. Her journey places Dickey in the most perilous of dangers where she realizes that, in trying to galvanize support to save oppressed peoples, she is saving herself.

Saltcrop, by Yume Kitasei

In Earth’s not too distant future, seas consume coastal cities, highways disintegrate underwater, and mutant fish lurk in pirate-controlled depths. Skipper, a skilled sailor and the youngest of three sisters, earns money skimming and reselling plastic from the ocean to care for her ailing grandmother. But then her eldest sister, Nora, who left home a decade ago in pursuit of a cure for the world’s failing crops, goes missing. When Skipper and her other sister, Carmen, receive a cryptic plea for help, they must put aside their differences and set out across the sea to find, and save, Nora. As they voyage through a dying world both beautiful and strange, encountering other travelers along the way, they learn more about their sister’s work and the corporations that want what she has discovered. The farther they go, the more uncertain their mission becomes: What dangerous attention did Nora attract, and how well do they really know their sister — or each other?

NONFICTION

Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave: My Cemetery Journeys, by Mariana Enriquez

Fascinated by the haunting beauty of cemeteries since she was a teenager, Enriquez visits them frequently on her travels around the world. When the body of a friend’s mother who was “disappeared” during Argentina’s military dictatorship is found in a common grave, Enriquez begins to examine the complex meanings of cemeteries and where our bodies come to rest. She journeys across North and South America, Europe and Australia, visiting Paris’ catacombs, Prague’s Old Jewish Cemetery, New Orleans’ above-ground mausoleums and the opulent Recoleta in her hometown of Buenos Aires. Enriquez investigates each cemetery’s history and architecture, its saints and ghosts, its caretakers and visitors, and, of course, its dead. Fascinating and spooky, weaving personal stories with reportage, interviews, myths, hauntology, personal photographs, and more, Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave reveals as much about Enriquez’s own life and unique sensibility as the graveyards she tours.

The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed and Happiness, by Morgan Housel

Doing well with money isn’t necessarily about what you know. It’s about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people. Investing, personal finance and business decisions are typically taught as a math-based field, where data and formulas tell us exactly what to do. But in the real world people don’t make financial decisions on a spreadsheet. They make them at the dinner table, or in a meeting room, where personal history, your own unique view of the world, ego, pride, marketing and odd incentives are scrambled together. In The Psychology of Money, Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money and teaches you how to make better sense of one of life’s most important topics.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Fox and the Mystery Letter, by Alex G. Griffiths

Fox has a mystery to solve — and a friendship to fix! In the dense forest, in a lonely cottage, there lives Fox. Fox is perfectly happy all by himself until one day, a letter arrives: “Dear Fox: I know how much you enjoy puzzles. I bet you can’t resist this one . . . Head to the forest path to begin your journey. From an old friend.” Fox doesn’t need any mysterious puzzles or adventures . . . still, it can’t hurt to look at the first clue. Of course, one clue leads to the next. Fox follows arrows in the mud; notes taped to trees; swirling smoke signals; a map from a bottle; and gifts from fellow animals — on the trail of a friendship that once was. (Ages 3-5.)

A Spoonful of the Sea, by Hyewon Yum

On her birthday, a girl is presented with a bowl of miyeokguk — seaweed soup —  instead of the cake she wants. As she stirs her soup, her mother tells her how mothers eat it after giving birth and how it is served on birthdays to honor them; about haenyeo — women who dive into the ocean’s depths to harvest shellfish and seaweed; and how, many mothers ago, a pregnant haenyeo saw a whale eating seaweed after giving birth and tried it after having her own baby — creating a tradition that would continue for generations of daughters to come. In her picture book Yum has crafted a luminous and heartfelt celebration of motherhood, heritage, and the deep-rooted connection between women and nature. (Ages 4-8.)

Henry Is an Artist, by Justin Worsley

Henry is a dedicated artist, a master sculptor, and . . . a dog. Each day on his walks to the park, he leaves his new “art” for people to admire. But his sculptures keep getting tossed in the garbage without even being noticed! That is until, one day, when someone quite unexpectedly falls in love with his work and, at last, Henry has his moment to shine. This truly unique picture book about creativity, perseverance, and, well, poop, is a hilarious ode to undiscovered artists everywhere. (Ages 4-8.) 

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August Books

FICTION

People Like Us, by Jason Mott

Two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is rife with gun violence. One is on a global book tour after a big prize win; the other is set to give a speech at a school that has suffered a shooting. As their two storylines merge, truths and antics abound in equal measure: Characters drink booze out of an award trophy; menaces lurk in the shadows; tiny French cars putter around the countryside; handguns seem to hover in the air; and dreams endure against all odds. Mott, the 2021 National Book Award winner, delivers an electric new novel that is wickedly funny and achingly sad all at once. It is an utter triumph bursting with larger-than-life characters who deliver a very real take on our world.

Sheepdogs, by Elliot Ackerman

Two misfits. One mission. Zero back-up. When a high-stakes heist goes wrong, an ex-CIA operative and a special operations pilot find themselves in the middle of a game of espionage and survival as they navigate a treacherous web of deception and shifting loyalties in a globe-spanning thriller. Skwerl, once an elite member of the CIA’s paramilitary unit, was cast out after a raid gone wrong in Afghanistan. Big Cheese Aziz, a former Afghan pilot of legendary skill, now works the graveyard shift at a gas station. Recruited into a shadowy network of “sheepdogs,” they embark on a mission to repossess a multi-million-dollar private jet stranded on a remote African airfield. As they wind through a labyrinth of lies and hidden agendas, they discover that nothing is as it seems. With the stakes skyrocketing and the women in their lives drawn into the fray, this unlikely spy duo will need to be as cunning as they are bold to survive in a game where the line between the hunters and the hunted is razor-thin.

NONFICTION

Are You Mad at Me?, by Meg Josephson

Josephson, a psychotherapist and clinical social worker, is here to show you that people-pleasing is not a personality trait. It’s a common survival mechanism known as “fawning” — an instinct often learned in childhood to become more appealing to a perceived threat in order to feel safe. Yet many people are stuck in this way of being for their whole lives. Are You Mad at Me? weaves Josephson’s own moving story with that of fascinating client stories and thought-provoking exercises to help you shed the behaviors that are keeping you stuck in the past so that you can live in your most authentic present.

This Happened to Me: A Reckoning, by Kate Price

Price grew up in northern Appalachia in a small mill town in central Pennsylvania with her sister and parents. At the insistence of her mother, and through her academic accomplishments, she escaped the unbroken cycles of poverty, violence, addiction, mental illness and abuse that had plagued her family for generations to start a new life in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Having left this dark world behind, it still kept a firm grip on her. Overcome with unexplainable grief and sadness, and having sustained a series of hazy flashbacks, Price sought out Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a trauma specialist, to help heal her constant emotional pain. With van der Kolk as her guide, Price discovered what that darkness that lay within her was — her father had abused and trafficked her as a child. Price grappled with what had been revealed. Did this really happen to her? A dedicated researcher and academic, she knew she needed confirmation, proof that what she had remembered had happened. And so began a 10-year quest alongside a journalist, to prove what Price knew to be her truth. In this exquisitely rendered, transformative memoir, Price describes how she broke free of what had defined her childhood, and went on to create a purpose-driven life and family, on her own terms.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

This Is Me: Getting to know yourself and others better,
by Helena Haraštová

This engaging book uses delightful stories to explore important feelings and traits, helping young readers better understand themselves and others. From Olivia’s courage to Tina’s thoughtfulness and Daniel’s carefulness, you’ll see how everyone’s different qualities make the world a richer place. The stories of 10 amazing kids spark important conversations about being yourself, understanding your emotions, and celebrating what makes everyone special. (Ages 6-9.)

The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole, by Cecilia Heikkila

Fox and Mole live alone on a headland, in two houses, side by side. Mole is carefree and self-centered. Fox is responsible and self-sacrificing. As autumn draws in, the friends read a spooky story together (which Mole keeps interrupting) about a raccoon who transforms into a scuffling monster (a slightly spooky bit) while Mole eats Fox’s cookies (all of them). The Wind in the Willows meets the Brontës in this unique picture book, a cozy, wry, gothic tale for curling up with on long, dark evenings. (Ages 4-7.)

Wonderfully Wild,
by Justine de Lagausie

Nature is full of naughty animals — from chimpanzees who pick their noses to pigs who play in mud. Children and mischievous adults alike will laugh out loud while learning some basic animal facts and realizing that, compared to the species depicted, they’re very well behaved! This celebration of cheeky critters is perfect for fans of Butt or Face? (Ages 4-8.)

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July Books

Fiction

Necessary Fiction, by Eloghosa Osunde

Across Lagos, Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest urban areas and one of the world’s most dynamic cities, Osunde’s characters seek out love for self and their chosen partners, even as they risk ruining relationships with parents, spouses, family and friends. As the novel unfolds, a rolling cast emerges — vibrantly active, stubbornly alive, brazenly flawed. They grapple with desire, fear, time, death and God, forming and breaking unexpected connections, in the process unveiling how they know each other, have loved each other, and had their hearts broken in that pursuit. As they work to establish themselves in the city’s lively worlds of art, music, entertainment and creative commerce, we meet their collective and individual attempts to reckon with the necessary fiction they carry for survival.

The President’s Hat, by Antoine Laurain

Dining alone in an elegant Parisian brasserie, accountant Daniel Mercier can hardly believe his eyes when French President François Mitterrand sits down to eat at the table next to him. Once the presidential party has gone, Daniel discovers that Mitterrand’s black felt hat has been left behind. After a few moments of soul-searching, Daniel decides to keep the hat as a souvenir of an extraordinary evening. It’s a perfect fit, and as he leaves the restaurant Daniel begins to feel somehow . . . different. Has he unwittingly discovered the secret of supreme power? Over the course of the next two years the iconic item of headgear brings success to the men and women who wear it. As it makes its way from head to head, the wearers find themselves acting with more confidence, decisiveness, authority and panache. Written with a delicious, wicked sense of humor, this delightfully quirky novel is a vivid re-creation of 1980s Paris, and an enchanting exploration of life’s possibilities.

Beneath the Moon and Long Dead Stars, by Daniel Wallace

In this dazzling collection of short fiction lives are altered in what appear to be minor moments: an unlatched lock, an old photo, a light left on too long. With Wallace’s masterful touch, those details transform into something mysterious and magical. His characters, hungry for connection, often find that everything hangs on a gust of wind or a single word.

Nonfiction

Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution,
by Molly Beer

Few women of the American Revolution have come through 250 years of U.S. history with such clarity and color as Angelica Schuyler Church. She was Alexander Hamilton’s “saucy” sister-in-law, and the heart of Thomas Jefferson’s “charming coterie” of artists and salonnières in Paris. Her trans-Atlantic network of important friends spanned the political spectrum of her time and place, and her astute eye and brilliant letters kept them well informed. Angelica was at the red-hot center of American history at its birth: in Boston, when Gen. Burgoyne surrendered to the revolutionaries; in Newport, receiving French troops under the command of her soon-to-be dear friend the Marquis de Lafayette; in Yorktown, just after the decisive battle; in Paris and London, helping to determine the standing of the new nation on the world stage. She was born as Engeltje, a Dutch-speaking, slave-owning Colonial girl who witnessed the Stamp Act riots in the Royal British Province of New York. She came of age under English rule as Angelica, raised to be a domestic diplomat responsible for hosting indigenous chiefs and enemy British generals at dinner. She was Madame Church, wife of a privateer turned merchant banker, whose London house was a refuge for veterans of the American war fleeing the guillotine in France.

Children's Books

Inside Your Brain: Ten Discoveries that Reveal How the Brain Works, by Lucy Ann Unwin, Caswell Barry, María Jesús Contreras

The human brain is famously complex and difficult to understand. Inside Your Brain takes young readers on an irreverent gallop through history to uncover 10 groundbreaking discoveries that have led to our current understanding of how the brain works. The ancient Egyptians discovered in battle that the brain was more important than they’d thought; Luigi Galvani sent electric shocks through the legs of dead frogs and uncovered how brain cells work; Phineas Gage’s unfortunate accident on the railroads revealed that you can survive a metal rod through the head; and some unwitting kittens helped us understand how our brain develops. This entertaining and engaging deep dive into the most mind-boggling area of science is sure to fascinate and delight young readers. (Ages 8 – 12.)

Toes, Teeth, and Tentacles: A Curious Counting Book, by Steve Jenkins, Robin Page

From the two-tongued loris to a scallop’s 200 eyes, readers will find joy in numbers with this latest book by the Caldecott Honor-winning team of Jenkins and Page. Toes, Teeth, and Tentacles celebrates and highlights the numerous unusual and strangely fascinating features and appendages of all kinds of animals, from horns to toes and stomachs to hearts. While not a counting book in the traditional sense, readers will enjoy learning all kinds of fun facts from the animal world as they look for fingers and fins! (Ages 4 – 8.)

Not a Spot to Spot: The True Story of Kipekee, the Giraffe Born without Spots, by Elizabeth Weiss Verdick

It’s summertime at the Brights Zoo, and something very special is due . . . a new baby giraffe. And this giraffe is extra extraordinary. She is all one shade — not a spot to spot! Mama loves her baby unconditionally and knows she is perfectly herself, but will everyone else see it, too? Based on the true story of Kipekee, a rare, reticulated giraffe born without spots who captured the world’s heart, this adorable and uplifting picture book celebrates the joys of being unique. (Ages 4 – 8.)

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June Books

Fiction

Atmosphere: A Love Story, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to journey into space. Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, she begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: top gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer who can fix any engine and fly any plane. As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. Then, in December 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant. Fast-paced and emotional, Atmosphere tells a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love among the stars.

Blonde Dust, by Tatiana de Rosnay

Pauline, a young chambermaid who works at the legendary Mapes Hotel in Reno, Nevada, is asked to step in for a colleague and clean Suite 614. Although she was told the rooms were empty, a dazed, sleepy woman appears before her. It’s Mrs. Miller, aka Marilyn Monroe, whose stay in Reno coincides with the breakdown of her marriage to Arthur Miller and the filming of what was to be her last film, The Misfits. Set in the American West in 1960 where the mustang horses run wild, an unexpected friendship unfolds between the most famous movie star in the world and a young cleaning woman whose life will be changed forever through the course of a few weeks.

Nonfiction

Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship,
by Dana A. Williams

A multifaceted genius, Toni Morrison transcended her role as an author, helping to shape an important period in American publishing and literature as an editor at one of the nation’s most prestigious publishing houses. While Morrison’s literary achievements are widely celebrated, her editorial work is little known. Drawing on extensive research and firsthand accounts, this comprehensive study discusses Morrison’s remarkable journey from her early days at Random House to her emergence as one of its most important editors. During her tenure in editorial, Morrison refashioned the literary landscape, working with such important authors as Toni Cade Bambara, Leon Forrest and Lucille Clifton, and empowering cultural icons such as Angela Davis and Muhammad Ali to tell their stories on their own terms. From the manuscripts she molded, to the authors she nurtured, to the readers she inspired, Toni at Random demonstrates how Morrison has influenced American culture beyond the individual titles or authors she published.

It’s Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground, by David Litt

David, the Yale-educated former Obama speechwriter with a fear of sharks, and his brother-in-law Matt, a tattooed, truck-driving Joe Rogan superfan with a shed full of surfboards, had never been close. But as America’s crises piled up and David spiraled into existential dread, he noticed that his brother-in-law was thriving. He began to suspect Matt’s favorite hobby had something to do with it. David started taking surf lessons. For months, he wiped out on waves the height of daffodils. Yet, after realizing that surfing could change him both in and out of the water, he set an audacious goal: riding a big wave in Hawaii. Together, they set out on a journey that spanned coasts, and even continents, before taking them to Oahu’s famously dangerous North Shore. It’s Only Drowning is a laugh-out-loud ode to embarking on adventures at any age.

Children's Books

Flower Girls: A Story of Sisters,
by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman

Daisy, Lily and Poppy are the flower sisters, each with their own corner of the garden to nurture and grow. Fancy Nancy illustrator Robin Preiss Glaser includes detail and wonder that will delight nature lovers and budding garden horticulturalists everywhere. (Ages 2-7.)

Where the Deer Slip Through,
by Katey Howes

Part seek-and-find adventure and part ode to nature, this stunning tale is the perfect read-together for young nature lovers and their grownups. (Ages 2-7.)

Never Take Your Rhino on a Plane, by K.E. Lewis

This little gem is sure to gather as many giggles on the first read as the fifth and should you need to transport your hippo on summer vacation, you’ll already have a list of do’s and don’ts! (Ages 3-7.)

Good Boy, by Andy Hirsch

Animal-loving graphic novel readers looking for something after burning through Dogman and PAWS will delight in this new series featuring Charlie and his rescue dog, Ralph, as they tackle the challenge of agility training. With adventure, real life problems, and some gross-out humor, this one’s a summer reading hit. (Ages 8-12.)

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May Books

Fiction

The Emperor of Gladness, by Ocean Vuong

One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, 19-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in the pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning and heartbreak. The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor and loneliness form the bedrock of American life.

The Dark Maestro, by Brendan Slocumb

Curtis Wilson is a cello prodigy, growing up in the southeast D.C. projects with a drug dealer for a father. Through determination and talent — and the loving support of his father’s girlfriend, Larissa — Curtis claws his way out of his challenging circumstances and rises to unimagined heights in the classical music world. Then, suddenly, his life disintegrates. His father, Zippy, turns state’s evidence, implicating his old bosses. Now the family — Curtis included — must enter the witness protection program if they want to survive. Curtis is forced to give up the very thing he loves the most: sharing his extraordinary music with the world. When Zippy’s bosses prove too elusive for law enforcement, Curtis, Zippy and Larissa realize that their only chance of survival is to take on the criminals themselves.

Where the Rivers Merge, by Mary Alice Monroe

It’s 1908 and the Low Country of South Carolina is on the cusp of change. Mayfield, the grand estate held for generations by the Rivers family, is the treasured home of young Eliza. A free spirit, she refuses to be confined by societal norms and spends her days exploring the vast property, observing wildlife and riding horses. But the Great War, coastal storms and family turmoil bring unexpected challenges, putting Eliza on a collision course with the patriarchal traditions of a bygone era. Fast-forward to 1988. Eliza, now 88, is the scion of the Rivers/DeLancey family. She’s fought a lifetime to save her beloved Mayfield and is too independent and committed to quietly retire and leave the fate of the estate to her greedy son. She must make decisions that will assure the future of the land and her family — or watch them both be split apart. Where the Rivers Merge is a dramatic and sweeping multigenerational family story of unyielding love, lessons learned, profound sacrifices, and the indomitable spirit of a woman determined to protect her family legacy and the land she loves.

Nonfiction

Mark Twain, by Ron Chernow

Before he was Mark Twain, he was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Born in 1835, the man who would become America’s first great literary celebrity spent his childhood dreaming of piloting steamboats on the Mississippi. But when the Civil War interrupted his career on the river, the young Clemens went west to the Nevada Territory and accepted a job at a local newspaper, writing dispatches that attracted attention for their brashness and humor. It wasn’t long before the former steamboat pilot from Missouri was recognized across the country for his literary brilliance, writing under a pen name that he would immortalize. After establishing himself as a journalist, satirist and lecturer, he eventually settled in Hartford, Connecticut, with his wife and three daughters, where he went on to write The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He threw himself into the hurly-burly of American culture and emerged as the nation’s most notable political pundit. At the same time, his business ventures eventually bankrupted him. Twain suffered the death of his wife and two daughters, and the last stage of his life was marked by heartache, political crusades, and eccentric behavior that sometimes obscured darker forces at play. Drawing on Twain’s bountiful archives, including thousands of letters and hundreds of unpublished manuscripts, Chernow captures the man whose writing continues to be read, debated and quoted.

Children's Books

Mugs and Kisses: World’s Best Mom, by Teresa Bonaddio

There are so many reasons to love our moms! Moms are magicians, our strongest supporters, our biggest fans. Moms deserve to be honored. This adorable mug-shaped board book is perfect for Mother’s Day, birthdays or any day you want to celebrate the amazing moms that make our lives great. Pair with mom’s favorite tea or coffee for the perfect gift. (All ages.)

The Big Book of Fantasy Kid Crafts, by Jennifer Buchheit

Fairy house bird feeders, suncatcher dragon wings, egg carton gnomes, firefly lanterns and more. With fabulous photos and step-by-step instructions, craft-crazy fantasy adventurers (and their grownups) will enjoy many afternoons of fun with this unique how-to book. (Ages 4-12.)

K Is in Trouble Again, by Gary Clement

Darkly comic K is back for more (slightly tragic) adventures, perfect for that tween graphic novel reader who appreciates a little gallows humor and has outgrown “Big Nate” and “Dog Man.” (Ages 10-13.)

The House at the Edge of Magic,
by Amy Sparkes

Sometimes heroes come in the most unlikely form. Nine is a pickpocket without an altruistic bone in her body. When she lifts a tiny house from a lady’s purse and knocks on the door, it morphs into a giant higgledy-piggledy house complete with a troll housekeeper named Eric, a mad alchemist who is really a spoon, and a hopscotch-loving wizard all living under a terrible curse. Will Nine choose to become a hero and help? (Ages 9-12.)